Global Dementia New Cases Projected to More Than Double by 2050, Study Warns

Researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, pooling data from 22 long-term studies across 18 countries involving 38,418 participants, have projected that the annual number of new dementia cases worldwide will more than double — from 11.4 million in 2023 to 24.7 million by 2050. The study, published in the journal JAMA Neurology in mid-October 2026, is among the most comprehensive analyses of global dementia incidence to date. The authors found that women and people living in low- and middle-income countries bear a disproportionately high risk of developing dementia, reflecting broader inequalities in education, cardiovascular health, and access to preventive care. The findings complement existing estimates showing that the total number of people currently living with dementia exceeds 57 million, with some projections placing that cumulative figure near 150 million by mid-century. The researchers emphasised that many dementia cases are potentially preventable through addressing modifiable risk factors — including hypertension, physical inactivity, smoking, and social isolation — and called for urgent investment in healthcare infrastructure, especially in lower-income regions, to manage the coming surge.